Overview
A writer's midnight strolls in Paris lead him to unexpected inspiration and romance.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Mild
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- None
- witty
- whimsical
- wistful
- date night
- paris travel inspiration
What critics said
Critics broadly praised the film as a funny, charming, visually beautiful, and accessible blend of romantic fantasy and philosophical reflection, while finding it lighter than Allen's classic work.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Gil's fascination with the 1920s gradually confronts the recurring human belief that another period was the true golden age.
Gil's midnight walks transport him into 1920s Paris and bring him into contact with literary and artistic figures including Gertrude Stein and Salvador Dalí.
Paris is foregrounded through extended atmospheric views, nighttime walks, and its role as a meeting place for artists and writers.
Gil's dream of living in Paris and his idealization of the 1920s conflict with Inez's preferences and their impending marriage.
Films like Midnight in Paris, and why
The Purple Rose of Cairo
Both are witty, romantic fantasies in which discontent with ordinary life opens onto an idealized alternative reality, prompting self-discovery.
About Time
Both blend romantic comedy with time travel, nostalgia, and a gently philosophical challenge to fantasies about the past.
La La Land
Both are intellectually playful, wistful romantic comedies centered on artistic ambition, emotional indecision, and a magical encounter with another era.
Amélie
Both use a charmingly fantastical premise to explore nostalgia, cultural mythology, and the tension between romantic ideals and lived relationships.
Movie Details
- Director
- Woody Allen
- Release Date
- 2011-05-11
- Runtime
- 94 min
- Rating
- 7.5 / 10 (7903)
Cast
- Owen Wilson
- Rachel McAdams
- Kathy Bates
- Kurt Fuller
- Adrien Brody
- Carla Bruni
- Marion Cotillard
- Michael Sheen
- Nina Arianda
- Tom Hiddleston
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Sony Pictures Core Amazon Channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand, Plex
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Midnight in Paris about?
- A wistful Hollywood writer finds midnight access to his artistic idols in 1920s Paris, forcing him to choose between nostalgia and the life before him.
- What is Midnight in Paris like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Midnight in Paris as brisk, its intensity as mild and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Midnight in Paris violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Midnight in Paris.
- What did critics think of Midnight in Paris?
- Critics broadly praised the film as a funny, charming, visually beautiful, and accessible blend of romantic fantasy and philosophical reflection, while finding it lighter than Allen's classic work.
- Which films are like Midnight in Paris?
- Films with a similar feel include The Purple Rose of Cairo, About Time, La La Land, and Amélie.
- How long is Midnight in Paris?
- Midnight in Paris runs 94 minutes.
- Where can I watch Midnight in Paris?
- In United States, Midnight in Paris streams on Sony Pictures Core Amazon Channel.
